Enhanced Cost for Southwest Airlines Priority Boarding
Southwest Airlines has recently updated its boarding fees, with Upgraded Boarding prices now ranging from $30 to $50 per flight segment. This change, effective as of May 15, 2023, allows passengers to secure a higher boarding position directly in the Southwest mobile app starting 24 hours before departure, if open boarding positions in the A1-A15 group are available [1][3].
The new price range represents a fixed price bracket for upgraded boarding, which had been reported earlier within the same range. There is no evidence to suggest that these fees were lower before May 15, 2023; rather, these fees were consistent with existing published prices for upgraded boarding privileges [1][3].
In contrast, EarlyBird Check-In fees, a separate option to improve boarding position, cost $15 to $25 and do not guarantee an A boarding group spot [1][3].
Here's a summary of the new boarding upgrade options and their respective prices:
| Boarding Upgrade Option | Price Range as of May 15, 2023 | Notes | |------------------------|-------------------------------|----------------------------| | Upgraded Boarding | $30 - $50 per flight segment | Paid to secure A1-A15 boarding spot if available | | EarlyBird Check-In | $15 - $25 one-way per person | Improves boarding position but no guarantee of A group |
It's important to note that these prices will not remain accurate after December 31, 2025 [2]. The increase in Upgraded Boarding position cost applies to both short and long routes [2]. For instance, the cost for Upgraded Boarding on shorter routes, such as Boston (BOS) to Baltimore (BWI), has doubled, while the cost for longer routes, such as Baltimore (BWI) to Los Angeles (LAX), has also increased significantly [2].
Southwest passengers are not assigned a specific seat when booking a ticket, and arriving late to boarding could result in losing out on the best seats onboard. Those who board first have the first chance at the best seats on the plane, such as the bulkhead or exit rows. The first few boarding groups (A1-15) are reserved for Business Select passengers [2].
The Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card and the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card offer complimentary Upgraded Boarding passes as a card benefit, providing 4 Upgraded Boarding certificates each [2].
References:
[1] Southwest Airlines. (2023). Southwest Airlines Upgraded Boarding Prices. Retrieved from https://www.southwest.com/html/help/boarding/upgraded-boarding.html
[2] Southwest Airlines. (2023). Southwest Airlines Boarding Process. Retrieved from https://www.southwest.com/html/help/boarding/process.html
[3] Southwest Airlines. (2023). Southwest Airlines EarlyBird Check-In. Retrieved from https://www.southwest.com/html/help/boarding/earlybird.html
[4] Southwest Airlines. (2023). Southwest Airlines Assigned Seating. Retrieved from https://www.southwest.com/html/help/seats/assigned.html
- The new Upgraded Boarding prices on Southwest Airlines, effective from May 15, 2023, range from $30 to $50 per flight segment and are in line with the previously reported range.
- The increase in Upgraded Boarding position cost applies to both short and long routes, with the cost on shorter routes such as Boston (BOS) to Baltimore (BWI) doubling, and the cost for longer routes like Baltimore (BWI) to Los Angeles (LAX) also significantly increasing.
- The Southwest Rapid Rewards Performance Business Credit Card and the Southwest Rapid Rewards Priority Credit Card offer complimentary Upgraded Boarding passes as a card benefit, providing 4 Upgraded Boarding certificates each.
